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Best Coding Bootcamps

Top Courses by Job Placement

By: The SwitchUp Team
Last Updated: September 28, 2021

Coding bootcamps offer intensive training programs — which stack up competitively against bachelor's degrees — for professionals who want to break into the technology sector. To help students determine the best coding bootcamps for positive career outcomes, SwitchUp gathered data from Burning Glass Technologies, a software analytics company. Bootcamps were ranked by the percentage of alumni employed in their field of study within a year of graduating.

Since 2014, SwitchUp has been a trusted source for helping people identify their ideal bootcamps. See our methodology or continue reading to explore the best coding bootcamps, bootcamps with the most alumni employed at the Big Five tech companies, and those that students love most. Finally, we provide information about what coding bootcamps entail in greater depth.

Best Coding Bootcamps 2022

In-Field Employment Rates and Top Employers for all bootcamps provided by Burning Glass Technologies


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#4
80% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online

Cost: $17,980

Courses: 12-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Full-Time), 36-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Part-Time), 19-Week Software Engineering Online Immersive with JavaScript and Python (Full-Time)


Top Employers

Google Inc., Amazon, Facebook


What Students Say

The Good:

"The staff was incredible in every aspect. The lecturers did a great job remotely (as a former teacher I was always impressed). The cohort lead always brought her inspiring attitude for the morning announcements and was always available for any support you might need."

- Chris, 8/12/2021

The Bad:

"Not a lot of direct support for non-visual learning styles (i.e. those who don't learn by reading)."

- Adam, 4/28/2021


#5
79% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Chicago, NYC

Cost: Free - $19,910

Courses: Software Engineering Immersive, Fullstack Academy Full-Time Software Engineering Immersive, Web Development Fellowship at Fullstack Academy, Summer of Code


Top Employers

Bloomberg, Google Inc., JP Morgan Chase Company


What Students Say

The Good:

"The post-graduate career success team has been wonderful to work with. There is constant support, and weekly meets to share resources, thoughts, concerns, and successes during the job search."

- Horace, 5/6/2021

The Bad:

"The pacing of the course could use some work. e.g. REACTOs (practice technical interviews) are more of an after-thought in the current set up when they are so crucial for the job search."

- Anonymous, 3/24/2020


#6
75% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Austin, Denver, Los Angeles, NYC, San Francisco

Cost: $17,980

Courses: 12-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Full-Time), 19-Week Software Engineering Online Immersive with JavaScript and Python (Full-Time), 36-Week Software Engineering Immersive (Part-Time)


Top Employers

Amazon, Ihs Markit, Vertafore Incorporated


What Students Say

The Good:

"I can't speak highly enough of the technical instructors. They are brilliant but make sure their code is easy to understand, which aids your learning process."

- Charles, 8/11/2021

The Bad:

"The con is that if you are not fully committed then your learning will suffer. You have to practice what they preach every day or you are not going to retain much. You are going to get behind quickly because it's fast-paced and each lesson builds on the other."

- Anonymous, 8/11/2021


#7
73% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Atlanta

Cost: $9,500

Courses: Web Development Bootcamp (Part Time), Web Development Bootcamp (Full Time)


Top Employers

Digitalcrafts, The Home Depot Incorporated, Insiten


What Students Say

The Good:

"Aside from learning a ton of different programming languages within 16 weeks, the network that is built within the same 4 months makes it well worth it. From career services to the best instructor I have ever had, the DigitalCrafts experience is unmatched."

- Kurtis, 4/22/2021

The Bad:

"There were some subjects in the curriculum we didn't seem to spend enough time on due to the fast pace, so in order to really learn the material that's covered you have to be prepared to dedicate a lot of time outside of class to understand it."

- Calvin, 7/1/2021


#8
68% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, NYC, San Francisco

Cost: Free - $16,000

Courses: 16-week Software Engineering Program, 24-week Software Engineering Program (Full Time), App Academy Open


Top Employers

Google Inc., Wayfair, Amazon


What Students Say

The Good:

"They are capable of teaching new languages and technologies quickly so you can apply them immediately. We build both independently and alongside group members using Agile workflow with incredibly quick turnaround times."

- Alexandra, 8/10/2021

The Bad:

"I think it is a great place to quickly learn essential SWE skills, but a lot of the CS fundamentals, algorithms, data structures, etc. are not a big part of the course so we will have to study that on our own time for job search."

- Anonymous, 7/7/2021


#9
67% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Denver, NYC

Cost: Free - $17,900

Courses: Online Software Engineering, Software Engineering


Top Employers

Freelance, Infosys, Amazon


What Students Say

The Good:

"After I graduated, I also received an amazing amount of support. My Career Coach challenged me and asked difficult questions to help me identify my negative patterns, and walked me through step-by-step instructions on how to improve my connections on Linked In and get my applications noticed."

- Kelsey, 1/31/2021

The Bad:

"After formally graduating, I found that there is actually more content for studying.... My critique would've been that devops/live environment setup, algorithms, and performance were completely neglected, but the post-work section makes a good save on that front."

- Anonymous, 9/15/2020


#10
64% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, NYC

Cost: $3,500 - $16,450

Courses: Software Engineering Immersive, Front-End Web Development (Part-Time), Software Engineering Immersive - Flex


Top Employers

Google Inc., Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc


What Students Say

The Good:

"The instructors, career and mental support, and the classmates all made this experience worth the time and money. I was able to build the necessary skills, a strong professional network, and confidence for entering a new industry."

- Colin, 6/2/2021

The Bad:

"I wish, for example, that we would have touched on Python, and perhaps Java. I also wish that we had an extra unit on Technical Interview Prep - concentrating on popular interview questions and practicing whiteboarding in front of other people (which can be very nerve-wracking)."

- Adam, 5/7/2021


#11
62% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Portland

Cost: $1,800 - $14,000

Courses: Full-Time Software Developer Boot Camp, Full-Time Python Developer Boot Camp, Full-Time C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp, Part-Time Software Developer Boot Camp, Part-Time C# and .NET Framework Boot Camp


Top Employers

Microsoft Corporation, The Tech Academy, American Power and Gas


#12
62% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Seattle

Cost: $99 - $12,000

Courses: Code 101: Explore Software Development, Code 102: Intro to Software Development - Daytime, Code 401: Advanced Software Development in Full-Stack JavaScript - Daytime, Code 401: Advanced Software Development in Full-Stack JavaScript - Nights & Weekends


Top Employers

Amazon, Microsoft Corporation, Facebook


#13
58% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Chicago

Cost: $14,900

Courses: Actualize Coding Bootcamp: Part-Time, Actualize Coding Bootcamp: Online Live, Actualize Coding Bootcamp: Full-Time


Top Employers

Ahead, Braintree, Oracle


#14
57% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online

Cost: Free - $21,950

Courses: Full Time Full Stack Web Development, Full Time Backend Development


Top Employers

Amazon, Lambda School, Nexient


#15
56% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Boston, Chicago, London, Miami, NYC

Cost: $2,450 - $16,500

Courses: Web Development Bootcamp, Web Development Course


Top Employers

Shopify, Freelance, Brainstation


#16
56% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Los Angeles, San Jose

Cost: Free - $16,995

Courses: Software Development Onsite Full-Time Bootcamp, Software Development Online Part-Time Accelerated Bootcamp, Software Development Online Part-Time Flex Bootcamp, Software Development Online Full-Time Bootcamp


Top Employers

Microsoft Corporation, Amazon, Accenture


#17
56% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Portland, Seattle

Cost: $100 - $7,800

Courses: Intro to Programming (part-time evening), C# and React, Ruby and React, C# and React (Part-Time)


Top Employers

Nike, Inc., Eyecue Lab, Acquia


#18
56% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online, Milwaukee

Cost: $12,900 - $17,800

Courses: Software Development, Full Stack Flex


Top Employers

Northwestern Mutual, Nvisia, devCodeCamp


#19
55% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online

Cost: $4,900 - $16,000

Courses: Engineering Immersion, Engineering Flex Program


Top Employers

Amazon, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton Inc


#20
55% Employed in Field of Study

Location: Online

Cost: $349 - $11,900

Courses: Software Engineering Career Track, Software Engineering Career Track Prep Course


Top Employers

Amazon, Facebook, Bank of America


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Why Trust Our Rankings?

350+ Hours Spent Researching Job Outcomes

Ratings Based on 29k Student Reviews

Annual Rankings Since 2014

We are the only publisher to rank bootcamps based on actual job outcomes, using in-field employment rate within 1 year of graduation.

Employment data provided by Burning Glass Technologies.

Bootcamps with Highest Percentage Employed by the Big Five

top five employers: google, facebook, amazon, microsoft, apple

Bootcamps Students Love

SwitchUp gathered the top rated coding bootcamps based on reviews from verified students and graduates. These bootcamps have at least 100 reviews and feature an average star rating of 4.9.

"Codeworks has a great selection process, including the pre-course, where you can prove to yourself that you’re willing to put in the time and effort: if you put the 20 in they take you to 100!"

- Gabor, 6/21/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"Experienced professionals that love what they do. Always there to answer questions, guide, or support you. I took the part-time program, and I'm not gonna lie, it's INTENSE! But the effort pays off."

- Nicolás, 5/19/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"Well structured curricula, flexible lesson times and career services, were the distinguishing factor in my choice of Clarusway. I landed a job in 15 days after graduation."

- Murat, 9/25/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"It’s definitely a fast-paced learning experience and was hard at times, but the teachers were all incredibly patient and everyone in my class pushed each other to challenge ourselves."

- Lena, 8/25/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"The content of all the courses are laid out intuitively and comprehensibly; perfect for all types of learner wether it be visual, auditory or kinesthetic. The strong female presence has made SheCodes all the more encouraging and empowering."

- Geneviève, 8/28/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"The possibility to alternate between online and in-class courses is a huge advantage. It was very helpful to maintain a balance with my full-time job."

- Ali, 7/1/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"The staff at LearningFuze was what made me come back to try out their free prep class, and then ultimately enroll in the full-time immersion program. I never worried whether I would have access to an instructor for help."

- Tesia, 3/7/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"The people around you during the bootcamp are the ones who make the difference between other bootcamps or courses. They know how to transmit the values to create an excellent study and work environment, and thanks to this, a fantastic team is formed among students, teachers and managers."

- Laura, 7/6/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

"My experience with Altcademy was amazing. I did a lot of research before signing up and consulted friends who are software engineers. We all came to the conclusion that Altcademy's fullstack program is the best amongst its peers."

- Susana, 3/1/2021

 READ ALL REVIEWS

Overview of Coding Bootcamps

What Is a Coding Bootcamp?

A coding bootcamp is an intensive program that teaches people technical computer skills in a short amount of time, including coding in a variety of languages, web design, and cybersecurity. A bootcamp can be a more affordable alternative to a computer science degree, and it can help build practical and professional knowledge through real-world experience so students can either pivot careers or improve their marketability in their current field.

According to the nonprofit research organization RTI International, about 70% of bootcamp offerings are full time. The average program length is three to six months, with full-time programs taking less time because students take more classes each week. More than 60% of bootcamp enrollees study web development, with data science next in line at 10%. Typical web design programs might have immersive courses in full-stack development of webpages and web applications using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or another language, and data science instructors might discuss database design, Python language, machine learning, and iOS app development.



A coding bootcamp is an intensive program that teaches people technical computer skills in a short amount of time, including coding in a variety of languages, web design, and cybersecurity.

Coding and digital technology may seem like natural subjects for online course delivery, but only 15% of bootcamps offered fully online programs in 2019. It's possible that the COVID-19 pandemic will shift that balance — early data showed increased interest in online programs during 2020. Many online coding bootcamps are designed for asynchronous learning, so students can sign in at their convenience to complete coursework.

But Are Coding Bootcamps Suitable for Beginners?

RTI International found that 59% of bootcamps have some admissions criteria, but these mainly include general aptitude tests rather than specific technical skills. Online and part-time programs tend to have fewer coding skill requirements for admission.

However, prospective applicants may want to get a taste of what coding is like before committing. A number of services provide free introductory coding courses in which students can learn some of the basic terminology and functions of computer code. Coding carries a stigma of being extremely difficult, but most people can learn to code if they make the effort and take the time.


Choosing and Applying to a Bootcamp

How Do You Choose a Coding Bootcamp?

Prospective students need to consider several factors when researching their coding bootcamp options. We've listed a few of these factors below, but it's up to each individual to decide how heavily to weigh them when making a decision.

Where do I want to work, and what do I want to do?

Do you have a passion for startups, or do you dream of working for one of the international powerhouses in the tech industry? Develop a list of target employers and ideal jobs, then look for those terms as you read through SwitchUp's student reviews of bootcamps. Some bootcamps may feed more graduates to positions at particular companies, and some may not offer a program that teaches the particular job functions you want to perform. You can also read reports from the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR), which publishes completion and employment data for select bootcamps.

How do I want to study?

You may have the resources to pursue an intensive, full-time program for three months, or you may need to work during the day and reserve nights and weekends to gain coding experience. Research part-time versus full-time options, along with online versus in-person programs. Keep in mind that if you prefer to study on a campus, you're limited to bootcamps near your home.

Will the bootcamp help me once I graduate?

It may not be possible to immediately land a job with your top employer, but a good bootcamp should help you pursue opportunities elsewhere. Read through student reviews and note each institution's Job Support score for whether reviewers found the bootcamp's career coaching helpful. Also note any examples of extra care that career services personnel gave to individual students.

In addition to the above, we've put together a guide to choosing a bootcamp that provides more information, and you may also find it helpful to use our Get Matched tool. This tool was designed to give you a place to begin. Based on the information you provide, we match you with a highly-rated bootcamp, and that bootcamp will reach out to you to answer any questions you have and see if they can meet your needs.

I've Chosen a Bootcamp and Am Ready to Apply - What's Next?

Once you've decided where you want to attend, it's time to apply. Most applications begin by filling out an online form that's unique to each bootcamp. More selective bootcamps also require at least one interview, a coding assessment or demonstration, and preparatory coursework.

The interview usually covers a candidate's prior experience, future career goals, and enthusiasm for learning technical skills. Interviewers also try to determine how well an applicant will fit into the bootcamp's culture.

The assessment gives each candidate a chance to demonstrate their technical knowledge by solving problems or creating applications in a given coding language. Tests are usually done live in the presence of a proctor, though an admissions officer may also ask a candidate to prepare coding samples in advance.
A bootcamp's preparatory coursework introduces candidates to the program's teaching style, learning outcomes, and technical requirements. Because bootcamps pack a lot of material into a short period of time, instructors need to make sure that students have a base level of understanding.

Admissions counselors genuinely want every bootcamp graduate to succeed, so they only accept those candidates who appear to have the desire and stamina to complete their course of study. You may be interested in our 6 Tips for Getting into a Top Coding Bootcamp for more valuable ideas.


How Much Do Coding Bootcamps Cost?

In general, coding bootcamps cost about 10% of what students would pay for a traditional four-year degree. Most bootcamps are full time, which means that students won't be able to work a full-time job while studying, so they may need to budget carefully.



In general, coding bootcamps cost about 10% of what students would pay for a traditional four-year degree.

In addition, bootcamp students don't qualify for federal or state financial aid, but they can pursue limited scholarships through their institution. Some bootcamps also offer income share agreements, which is a form of loan directly from the school whereby enrollees pay an initial deposit and then agree to a fixed monthly payment plan once they secure work. The virtue of this arrangement is that alumni don't pay interest on the deferred tuition payments.

average bootcamp price 15k, average college price 225k

Are Coding Bootcamps Worth It?

Yes, investing in a coding bootcamp is usually worth the cost.

SwitchUp's recent research found that a similar overall percentage of bootcamp alumni found jobs with the Big Five tech companies — Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft — as graduates of technical degree programs at traditional colleges.

Crucially, employers beyond the Big Five also hire bootcamp graduates. Not every bootcamp reports post-graduation employment data to CIRR, but those that do generally demonstrate positive findings. An Indeed report from 2017 also showed good numbers for bootcamp alumni. Perhaps the best news from this survey was that nearly 100% of hiring managers who had hired a bootcamp graduate said they would continue to do so.

However, there are potential downsides to attending a coding bootcamp.

For one, bootcamps lack the broad scope provided by a four-year degree where students take general education courses to encourage a well-rounded development, and where they can often add a second major or a minor to their main course of study. The intense focus of bootcamps leaves little to no time to explore other avenues that may teach or reinforce important soft skills such as critical thinking and effective writing.

Another potential drawback is employment outlook:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes a very positive 11% job growth projection through 2029 for the broad category of computer and information technology professionals, but not all of these occupations are growing. In fact, computer programmers are facing a job loss of 9% in coming years largely due to outsourcing. Prospective bootcamp students should research hiring trends in the job market to make sure their desired skill set matches what employers are seeking.

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